Collapsible vase-transport system

Abstract

A transportable vase holder includes a top, bottom, right-side, and left-side portions (sheets) that are pivotably connected to each other and may be positioned to form the shape of a box. At one end of the portions (the “front”), flaps extend from top, bottom, and side portions. Each flap is pivotably connected to the portion from which it extends such that when the top, bottom, and side portions are positioned to form the shape of a box, the flaps may be configured to keep the portions in the shape of a box. The top portion includes a slot configured to receive a vase. One flap is configured to fold over a seat belt when the vase holder is set on a vehicle seat and the seat belt is placed over the front of the holder, and thereby secure the holder in place with relative to the seat belt and seat.

1 . A vase holder comprising:
 (a) a top sheet having a front edge, a back edge, a right edge, a left edge, and configured with a vase-retaining hole therein;   (b) a right-side sheet having a top edge, a bottom edge, a back edge, and a front edge, wherein the right-side sheet is pivotably connected to the top sheet at the top edge of the right-side sheet and the right edge of the top sheet;   (c) a left-side sheet having a top edge, a bottom edge, a back edge, and a front edge, wherein the left-side sheet is pivotably connected to the top sheet at the top edge of the left-side sheet and the left edge of the top sheet;   (d) a bottom sheet having a front edge, a back edge, a right edge, and a left edge, wherein the bottom sheet is pivotably connected to the right-side sheet at the right edge of the bottom sheet and the bottom edge of the right-side sheet, and wherein the bottom sheet is pivotably connected to the left-side sheet at the left edge of the bottom sheet and the bottom edge of the left-side sheet;   (e) at least one side flap pivotably connected to at least one of the group consisting of the front edge of the right-side sheet and the front edge of left-side sheet, wherein the side flap is configured with a slot;   (f) a bottom flap pivotably connected to the bottom sheet at the front edge of the bottom sheet;   (g) a top flap pivotably connected to the top sheet at the front edge of the top sheet;   (h) a retaining slot positioned in at least one of the group consisting of the bottom flap and the top flap; and   (i) a retaining tab attached to at least one of the group consisting of the top flap and the bottom flap and configured to coincidently fit within and engage the side flap's slot and the retaining slot.   
     
     
         2 . The vase holder of  claim 1  wherein the top sheet, bottom sheet, right-side sheet, left-side sheet, top flap, bottom flap, and side flap are formed from a single piece of material. 
     
     
         3 . The vase holder of  claim 1  wherein the top sheet, bottom sheet, right-side sheet, left-side sheet, top flap, bottom flap, and side flap are formed from two or more pieces of material. 
     
     
         4 . The vase holder of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the top sheet, bottom sheet, right-side sheet, left-side sheet, top flap, bottom flap, and side flap is formed of cardboard. 
     
     
         5 . The vase holder of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the top sheet, bottom sheet, right-side sheet, left-side sheet, top flap, bottom flap, and side flap is formed of wood. 
     
     
         6 . The vase holder of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the top sheet, bottom sheet, right-side sheet, left-side sheet, top flap, bottom flap, and side flap is formed of plastic. 
     
     
         7 . The vase holder of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the top sheet, bottom sheet, right-side sheet, left-side sheet, top flap, bottom flap, and side flap is formed of metal. 
     
     
         8 . The vase holder of  claim 1  wherein the vase-retaining hole in the top sheet is substantially circular. 
     
     
         9 . A method of securing a vase to a seat, the method comprising:
 (a) providing a vase holder comprising:
 (i) a top sheet having a front edge, a back edge, a right edge, a left edge, and configured with a hole therein; 
 (ii) a right-side sheet having a top edge, a bottom edge, a back edge, and a front edge, wherein the right-side sheet is pivotably connected to the top sheet at the top edge of the right-side sheet and the right edge of the top sheet; 
 (iii) a left-side sheet having a top edge, a bottom edge, a back edge, and a front edge, wherein the left-side sheet is pivotably connected to the top sheet at the top edge of the left-side sheet and the left edge of the top sheet; 
 (iv) a bottom sheet having a front edge, a back edge, a right edge, and a left edge, wherein the bottom sheet is pivotably connected to the right-side sheet at the right edge of the bottom sheet and the bottom edge of the right-side sheet, and wherein the bottom sheet is pivotably connected to the left-side sheet at the left edge of the bottom sheet and the bottom edge of the left-side sheet; 
 (v) at least one side flap pivotably connected to at least one of the group consisting of the front edge of the right-side sheet and the front edge of left-side sheet, wherein the side flap is configured with a slot; 
 (vi) a bottom flap pivotably connected to the bottom sheet at the front edge of the bottom sheet; 
 (vii) a top flap pivotably connected to the top sheet at the front edge of the top sheet; 
 (viii) a retaining slot positioned in at least one of the group consisting of the bottom flap and the top flap; and 
 (ix) a retaining tab attached to at least one of the group consisting of the top flap and the bottom flap and configured to coincidently fit within and engage the side flap's slot and the retaining slot; 
   (b) pivoting the side flap toward one of the group consisting of the front edge of the left-side sheet and the front edge of the right-side sheet;   (c) aligning the retaining slot with the side flap's slot by either pivoting the bottom flap toward the top sheet or pivoting the top flap toward the bottom sheet;   (d) positioning the vase holder relative to a seat having a seat bottom and a back rest so that the back edge of the top sheet is touching the back rest and the bottom sheet is toughing the seat bottom;   (e) positioning a seat belt across the front edge of the left-side sheet and the front edge of the right-side sheet, thereby restraining movement of the vase holder away from the back rest;   (f) inserting the retaining tab into the retaining slot and the side flap's slot by either pivoting the bottom flap toward the top sheet or pivoting the top flap toward the bottom sheet.   
     
     
         10 . A vase holder comprising:
 (a) a top sheet having a hole therein,   (b) a bottom sheet,   (c) a right-side sheet,   (d) a left-side sheet,   (e) a top flap extending from and pivotably connected to the top sheet,   (f) a bottom flap extending from and pivotably connected to the bottom sheet,   (g) a first side flap extending from and pivotably connected to one of the group consisting of the right-side sheet and the left-side sheet,   (h) a first pivot joint configured to join the top sheet and the right-side sheet;   (i) a second pivot configured to join the top sheet and the left-side sheet;   (j) a third pivot joint configured to join the bottom sheet and the right-side sheet;   (k) a forth pivot joint configured to join the bottom sheet and the left-side sheet;   (l) an adhesive joint configured to join the top, bottom, right-side, and left-side sheets into a contiguous structure;   (m) a retaining slot positioned in at least one of the group consisting of the bottom flap and the top flap; and   (n) a retaining tab attached to at least one of the group consisting of the top flap and the bottom flap and configured to coincidently fit within and engage the retaining slot.   
     
     
         11 . The vase holder of  claim 10  further comprising a second side flap extending from and pivotably connected to one of the group consisting of the right-side sheet and the left-side sheet. 
     
     
         12 . The vase holder of  claim 10  wherein the top, bottom, right-side, and left-side sheets are not joined into a contiguous structure. 
     
     
         13 . The vase holder of  claim 10  wherein the top, bottom, right-side, and left-side sheets are joined into a contiguous structure using the adhesive joint. 
     
     
         14 . The vase holder of  claim 10  wherein the adhesive joint includes an adhesive tab and an adhesive strip. 
     
     
         15 . The vase holder of  claim 10  wherein the adhesive joint is part of a pivot joint.